How to Lay Boulders in Landscape

Design the specific placement of boulders you wish to use as features in your landscape. Select the quantity and assortment of sizes of boulders based on the landscape area where they will be laid. Select an odd number of boulders to achieve proper balance. Plan to place the boulders in the landscape in arrangements where they form the three different points of a triangle to create a balanced setting. Use a pencil to draw a rough sketch on a piece of paper showing where the boulders will be laid in the landscape.

Lay boulders in rows to form natural retaining walls. Fill in soil behind the boulders or between rows of boulders to create an elevated growing area. Boulders used in this manner make excellent privacy barriers by raising the height of plants, creating a higher natural privacy screen. You can also create landscapes that look like natural habitat.

If the boulders are too massive to move by hand, maneuver them into place using a truck with a cherry picker mounted on the back. Use the cherry picker as a hoist to lower the boulders from the truck bed to the ground right where you want them placed.

Use a winch to drag the boulder across the ground when placing the boulders in landscape adjacent to an area accessible by a truck. Wrap the cable around the boulder and operate the winch to drag the boulder where you want it.

Roll large boulders on logs to maneuver them into place in areas of your landscape where a truck can't drive close enough to be of any use. Place a group of logs side by side lengthwise to create a crude roller system. Place the boulder on top and roll it along the top of the logs. Pull the logs up after the boulder rolls over them and place them back in front of the boulder to be rolled over again.